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Police watchdog investigates rape case
19.10.09
An independent inquiry was launched today into claims that a Scotland Yard officer left a woman in the clutches of a rapist.
Pc Matthew Harris could be disciplined over his response to 999 calls by concerned neighbours in Greenwich, south east London.
His actions were singled out by a judge after it was claimed he spoke to the rapist and left to attend another incident without further checks.
Vitas Jasionis, 54, was found guilty of attacking a 32-year-old woman at his brother's flat in Ruston Road in November last year.
It has been claimed the woman was attacked again after the patrol officer left and only managed to raise the alarm several hours later.
Deborah Glass, of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), said she will investigate to see if more could have been done to help the victim.
She said: "This woman suffered a horrific attack and people are understandably asking whether the police could have done something to help her.
"The trial of Jasionis clearly raised serious concerns about the actions of the officers who responded to the original 999 call.
"Our investigation is looking at those actions as well as the overall police response to the calls from neighbours."
Officers at the Metropolitan Police's professional standards department referred the case to the IPCC last Wednesday.
Jasionis, of Southwark, south east London, will be sentenced at a later date that has not been set.
His brother, Antanas Jasionis, 50, was cleared of rape but faces extradition to Lithuania where he is wanted for murder.
The Met is under huge pressure to improve its response to sex attacks in the wake of a series of bungled investigations.
Independent investigators launched inquiries into the police responses to the crimes of stalker Kirk Reid and taxi driver rapist John Worboys.
Up to 14 officers involved in the two probes could face prosecution as a result of missed opportunities, blunders and poor communication.
The reports are expected to be published before Christmas.
